However, when pressed by Julia Hartley-Brewer on fears over drug shortages if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, Mr Hancock said there was "a lot of work to do" to make sure people "can get access to their medicines".

"In the event of a no-deal Brexit, if there is significant blockages at the border, for instance, if the French are very difficult about allowing things through, then we need to be prepared so people can get access to their medicines and there's an awful lot of work that needs to happen to make sure that's the case.

'Unhindered supply'

"If everybody does what they need to both in government and in the pharmaceutical companies and in the NHS then we will, I'm confident, we can have an unhindered supply of drugs and the medicines that people need."

The government advised drugs companies to stockpile at least six weeks' worth of medicines to avoid disruption post-Brexit, which caused panic over potential medicine shortages.

"In government you have to plan for an awful lot of things that you don't want to happen," Mr Hancock said.